Is it true that our brain alone is responsible for human cognition? What about our body? Is it possible for thoughts and behavior to originate from somewhere other than our brain? Psychologists who study Embodied Cognition (EC) ask similar questions. The EC theory suggests our body is also responsible for thinking or problem-solving. More precisely, the mind shapes the body and the body shapes the mind in equal measure.
只有我们的大脑才负责人类的认知,这是真的吗?我们的身体呢?思想和行为有可能起源于我们大脑以外的其他地方吗?研究具象认知(EC)的心理学家也会提出类似的问题。EC理论表明,我们的身体也有责任思考或解决问题。更确切地说,思想塑造身体,并且与身体塑造思想的程度是相等的。
If you think about it for a moment, it makes total sense. When you smell something good or hear amusing sounds, certain emotions are awakened. Think about how newborns use their senses to understand the world around them. They don’t have emotions so much as needs - they don’t feel sad, they’re just hungry and need food. Even unborn babies can feel their mothers’ heartbeats and this has a calming effect. In the real world, they cry when they’re cold and then get hugged. That way, they start to associate being warm with being loved.
如果你仔细想想,它确实有道理。当你闻见好闻的,听见有趣的声音时,某些情绪就会被唤醒。想想新生儿是如何利用他们的感官来理解周围的世界的。与其说他们有情绪,不如说他们有需求——他们没有难过,他们只是饿了,需要食物。即使是未出生的婴儿也能感觉到母亲的心跳,这有镇静作用。在现实世界中,他们冷的时候会哭,然后被拥抱。这样,他们开始像社交一样,对被爱感到温暖。
Understandably, theorists have been arguing for years and still disagree on whether the brain is the nerve centre that operates the rest of the body. Older Western philosophers and mainstream language researchers believe this is fact, while EC theorises that the brain and body are working together as an organic supercomputer, processing everything and forming your reactions.
可以理解的是,理论家们多年来一直在争论,但仍然不同意大脑是操作身体其他部分的神经中心。年长的西方哲学家和主流语言研究人员认为这是事实,而EC理论认为大脑和身体作为一台有机的超级计算机协同工作,处理一切并形成反应。
Further studies have backed up the mind-body interaction. In one experiment, test subjects were asked to judge people after being handed a hot or a cold drink.
进一步的研究支持了身心互动。在一项实验中,实验对象被要求手握着热饮或冷饮对人进行评判。
They all made warm evaluations when their fingertips perceived warmth rather than coolness. And it works the other way too: in another study, subjects’ fingertip temperatures were measured after being included in or “rejected” from a group task. Those who were included felt physically warmer.
当他们的指尖感受到温暖而不是凉爽时,他们都做出了温暖的评价。另一种方式也是如此:在另一项研究中,测试者的指尖温度在被纳入或“拒绝”小组任务后测量。那些被纳入的人感觉指尖更温暖。
For further proof, we can look at the metaphors that we use without even thinking. A kind and sympathetic person is frequently referred to as one with a soft heart and someone who is very strong and calm in difficult situations is often described as solid as a rock. And this kind of metaphorical use is common across languages.
为了进一步证明,我们可以看看我们不假思索使用的比喻说法。善良和富有同情心的人经常被认为是一个心地柔软的人,而在困难情况下非常坚强和冷静的人经常会被描述为坚如磐石。这种隐喻性的使用在各种语言中都很常见。
Now that you have the knowledge of mind-body interaction, why not use it? If you’re having a bad day, a warm cup of tea will give you a flash of pleasure. If you know you’re physically cold, warm up before making any interpersonal decisions.
既然你已经掌握了身心互动的知识,为什么不使用它呢?如果你今天过得不好,一杯热茶会给你带来一丝愉悦。如果你知道自己身体很冷,在做出任何人际关系决定之前先温暖一下自己。